Upholstery 101: Selecting the Right Fabric
Wednesday, September 1st, 2010
If you’ve purchased a sofa recently, you are well aware of the overwhelming fabric options that are available. Here is a run down of the most common fabrics and the best ways to use them.
Niche Interiors custom sofa in a cotton blend fabric
Cotton. I’m a sucker for natural fibers. Cotton is a good choice for upholstery fabric – it’s breathable and comfortable to sit on. If you have a very active household, it would be advisable to opt for a cotton and synthetic blend for durability, such as 50% cotton and 50% polyester (or rayon) blend. Look for heavier weight cottons, such as canvas and denim for longer life spans.
Linen. Effortlessly chic, linen has the most appeal for casual, classic homes. The downside to linen sofas are the wrinkles, which are inevitable. If you like things to look uniform and perfect this is not the upholstery fabric for you.
Microfiber or Ultrasuede. These fabrics are everywhere! That’s a great thing if you have a house full of young kids and dogs. While they are durable, relatively stain resistant and easy to clean, they can be a bit drab. A great alternative to microfiber is to treat your sofa with a stain guard service such as Fiber Care, which is an eco-friendly application. For a few hundred dollars they will come to your home and treat the sofa to repel stains.
Synthetic Fibers. There are a wide range of synthetic fabrics used in upholstery, the most common being polyester, rayon, and nylon. Synthetic fabrics were created to mimic natural fabrics, but with increased stain resistance and durability (and often with a less expensive price tag). Generally, synthetic fibers are rather durable and are a good option when blended with a natural fabric. The downside is that they are mostly derived from coal and oil sources, so they are not environmentally friendly.
Leather. Easy to clean and long lasting, leather has been a popular upholstery choice for ages. With the increased awareness of environmental and animal impact, this choice might be waning in popularity. Personally, I think leather is best used on chairs rather than sofas. If you opt for leather, make sure to look for full or top grain leathers that have been aniline dyed.
* Need professional help? Niche Interiors provides furniture selection and buying services. Contact us for more information. *
Tags: custom furniture design bay area, custom sofa san francisco, custom upholstery san francisco, how to select fabric upholstery, interior designe 101 upholstery, upholstery basics
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Custom Furniture Design: When to Splurge
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010
If you live in San Francisco you are well aware of our tight spaces and awkward floor plans. Sometimes you just need an inspired solution to your design dilemma. When this is the case designers often turn to custom furniture, whether it be a unique sofa, hand-made table or built-in cabinets.
A custom sofa designed by Niche Interiors
Designing a piece of furniture from start to finish provides an endless amount of options to the client and designer and a level of quality and craftsmanship that is rarely achieved with retail furniture. Read on for advice on when to splurge!
Tight Spaces. If you have a tiny bathroom or kitchen and need to maximize every last inch, custom cabinetry is the way to go. Stock vanities and cabinets come in limited sizes, and can be hard to tailor to your specific needs. Do you have an eat-in kitchen nook that barely fits a table and chairs? Built-in banquette seating can be a great option to make unusable spaces more functional.
Custom cabinets designed by Niche Interiors
Oddly Shaped Spaces. A long narrow living room or an oddly positioned fireplace are two instances when custom furniture will enhance the function of your space. A designer’s job is to provide a floor plan solution that maximizes function and beauty. Designing the proportions, selecting the type of construction and fill, and selecting the perfect fabrics can make all the difference in a room.
Uniquely Yours. Have you searched high and low for just the right armchair, mirror, or accent pillow with no luck? This can be a very frustrating experience. If the perfect furniture piece is eluding you or just doesn’t exist, then have it made! You will end up with a one of a kind piece that will inspire you for years to come.
NEED PROFESSIONAL HELP? Niche Interiors offers custom furniture design in the San Francisco Bay Area. See our San Francisco Interior Design Services for a full list of home services and interior design packages.
Tags: apartment interior designer san francisco, custom furniture design san francisco, custom furniture san francisco, decorator san francisco, interior decorator san francisco, residential interior design
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Ask Jen: Custom sofa on a budget?
Monday, November 9th, 2009
Question: With the current recession & a very limited budget, I’m trying to update a small living room. I’m adding color to walls & have studies color wheel a lot. I want to have a sofa made in a microfiber velvet for durability, but I don’t have thousands to spend nor do I want junk that will only last 3-5 years. Can you suggest reputable places where I can order a custom sofa? Thank you for your reply. –Sandy
Answer: Hi Sandy, Unfortunately, truly custom sofas start around $2,500 (not including the fabric cost). But, now there are furniture stores that have lots of sizing options as well as fabric choices, which is a more affordable option. I would recommend the Mitchell Gold & Bob Williams line. The quality is good for the price point and there are 300 fabrics to choose from. There is a showroom in San Francisco called Ruby Living where you can sit in sofa models and see the fabric options. You can also try Room & Board, they don’t have quite as many fabric choices, but they offer a wide range of contemporary styles and lower price points. I hope that helps!
Check out our Services page for details on professional San Francisco interior design services!
Tags: affordable quality upholstery, custom furniture design bay area, custom sofa design san francisco, interior design questions answered, mitchell gold bob williams, room and board
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The Challenge of Built-ins
Friday, July 24th, 2009
Trying to design a piece of built-in furniture to blend seemlessly into the existing architecture of a space is not an easy feat. Luckily, I have a very talented contractor who just installed these built-in bookcases and window seat (with storage) with a fantastic eye for detail.
He was able to match the existing molding by utilizing San Francisco Victoriana, who carries a variety of architectural ornamentation, including many traditional moldings used in San Francisco buildings. If they don’t carry the specific molding you are trying to match they can make it for you.
Update: Here are the finished photos complete with hardware, sconces, and the window seat pad!
Tags: built-in furniture design, custom furniture design sf
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The Anatomy of a Sofa: Part II
Friday, November 14th, 2008
Hallelujah, the finished product not only looks sharp but it fit through the client’s door!
The patterned fabric on the back cushions puts a modern spin on the textbook sofa. The upholstery tacks and the fine attention to detail and proportion make the custom process well worth it.
Tags: anatomy of sofa, custom sofa process, custom upholstery
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